Hurricane Preparedness: Emergency & Evacuated Assistance Program (EEAP)
By: Celeste Mazloum
With hurricane season approaching, make sure to get ahead by registering for the Emergency & Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP). This program is designed to provide evacuation support to residents that may need specialized transportation assistance or those whose medical needs prevent them from evacuating themselves. Pre-registered residents will receive priority during and after an emergency, so make sure to register if you are eligible! People who are eligible to register can include but are not limited to the following:
- People who live alone or with families who may have functional needs
- People using oxygen
- People who have feeding tubes, feeding pumps or ostomies
- People who use life-sustaining equipment that requires electricity
- People unable to evacuate on their own or require specialized transportation
- People unable to access pick up point location or have access to transportation
- People with additional medical needs that require assistance in daily living activities.
Registration (online and paper application) for the EEAP closes before an evacuation order is pronounced. Therefore, do not wait until an evacuation order is issued to request to be added to the EEAP Registry. If you believe that you may be eligible for this program you can read more about this on the Miami-Dade website . To register for the Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program, please call 305-513-7700, or register online , or even send an email to eeap@miamidade.gov to request more information.
If more than one eligible person living in the same household requires assistance during evacuations, each person must complete and submit a separate application. To ensure that you will have access to the EEAP, make sure to pre-register, so that you can guarantee a spot. You can access the registration form in three different languages, including Spanish, Creole, and English.
The system will not save an incomplete application, so make sure you complete it all at once. You cannot put your registration on hold and come back to it at a later time or complete it in stages.
Although the EEAP provides many necessities for people with access or functional needs, they require you to bring some things as well. Everyone using the EEAP is required to be accompanied by a caregiver if they have one. In addition to this, individuals using the EEAP are also required to bring the names and numbers of emergency contacts, comfort items if needed, as well as necessary medical equipment. Make sure to bring your emergency supply kit along with you and your caregiver to sustain both of you for a minimum of three days.
Lastly, prepare your emergency documents which include:
- Proof of ownership or lease of your residence. (This is important when applying for disaster assistance after the disaster.)
- Social security number and those of your family members.
- Vehicle, boats, etc. – make & model, identification and license numbers.
- Bank account numbers and credit account numbers.
- Living Will and letter of instructions.
- Insurance policy numbers.
- Securities, deeds and loan numbers including company name, address and telephone numbers.
- Photos or video of all valuables for documentation of insurance claim. Consider documenting your possessions on film with a video or camera
- Personal documents, i.e.: Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).
This program is important because it provides specialized transportation, safe shelter, medical monitoring, and wellness checks to disabled individuals during weather emergencies. Once you’ve completed your registration, you will receive a “Thank You” screen and may be contacted by a Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) support personnel to verify your information and answer any questions you may have! If you have a printer, print a copy of this information for your file. You will receive a letter letting you know if you have been accepted in the program, as well as the evacuation assistance you are eligible to receive. Throughout the year, you will be contacted to update your personal contact and medical information. Although you do NOT need to complete an application every year, it is your responsibility to report any changes.
Make your preparations now and stay safe!
